Adjustable rear frame cladding

ABSTRACT

A clip assembly ( 36, 60 ) mounts a cladding panel to a body. The clip assembly includes a clip ( 36 ) and a key guide ( 60 ). The clip ( 36 ) has a head ( 38 ) and a shaft ( 40 ). The head ( 38 ) is adapted for attaching to a flange of the cladding panel. The key guide ( 60 ) has a hollow body ( 62 ) sized to receive and retain the shaft ( 40 ) in a first and second engagement position. The key guide ( 60 ) is configured to be inserted into a slot ( 52, 56 ) on the body structure and upon rotation is retained within the slot. One end of the cladding engages the pilot aperture ( 56 ) and an opposite end engages a slot ( 52 ). The cladding is adjustable relative to the body structure while in a first engagement position and is held in place for further fastening when in a second engagement position.

FIELD OF INVENTION

[0001] This invention relates to a clip assembly for adjustablyattaching a cladding to a vehicle.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

[0002] Cladding or panels are commonly used on vehicles. The panels canbe made of plastic material or of sheet metal. The panels are attachedto the vehicle structure using a variety of methods. If the panel andthe structure are compatible, the panels can be welded to the vehicle.However in many cases, the panel is plastic and the vehicle structure ismetal requiring the use of adhesives or fasteners.

[0003] Claddings are also provided with exterior design features, suchas styling lines and trim pieces. The design features must be aligned inorder to maintain the aesthetic appearance of the vehicle. Thus, thefasteners must enable the cladding to be adjusted relative to anadjacent panel or cladding.

[0004] In the prior art, a number of different fasteners have been usedto attach a plastic panel to a metal vehicle structure. Examples of suchfasteners include: U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,529,244; 4,607,877 and 5,429,412.Although the prior art fasteners allow a degree of adjustment, theassemblies are relatively complicated to assemble and install on thevehicle.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] The disadvantages of the prior art may be overcome by providing asimple clip assembly which allows the cladding to be easily and quicklyinstalled and then adjusted as desired.

[0006] According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided aclip assembly which mounts a cladding panel to a body structure. Theclip assembly includes a clip and a key guide. The clip has a head and ashaft. The head is adapted for attaching to a support flange of thecladding panel. The key guide has a hollow body sized to receive andretain the shaft of the clip. The key guide is configured to be insertedinto a slot on the body structure and upon rotation is slidably retainedwithin the slot.

[0007] According to another aspect of the invention, the body structureis provided with a series of guide slots and a pilot aperture. The guideslots are radially spaced from the pilot aperture and have a major axiswhich extends tangentially from the radial extent of the pilot apertureenabling the cladding to rotated relative to the body structure aboutthe pilot aperture.

[0008] According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided amethod of assembling a cladding to sub-assembly to be incorporated intoa vehicle. The method includes steps of providing a sub-assembly havinga pilot aperture and at least one elongated slot. A key guide isprovided into each of the pilot aperture and the at least one elongatedslot. A cladding is provided with a support flange. At least two clipsare provided on the support flange. The clips are positioned to engage acorresponding one of the key guides. The clips are inserted into thecorresponding keys guides to a first engagement position retaining thecladding on the sub-assembly and enabling the cladding to be rotatedabout the key guide in the pilot aperture, whereafter the cladding canbe fixed to the sub-assembly.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] In drawings which illustrate the embodiments of the presentinvention,

[0010]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cladding for attachmentincorporating the present invention;

[0011]FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of an inner face of the claddingof FIG. 1;

[0012]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a clip assembly of the presentinvention;

[0013]FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of a clip of FIG. 3;

[0014]FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of a body structureincorporating the present invention;

[0015]FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a key guide of FIG. 3;

[0016]FIG. 7 is a side elevation view of the key guide of FIG. 6;

[0017]FIG. 8 is a side sectional view of the attachment of the claddingto the body structure incorporating the present invention;

[0018]FIG. 9 is a side sectional view of the attachment of the claddingto the body structure incorporating the present invention;

[0019]FIG. 10 is a side sectional view of the attachment of the claddingto the body structure incorporating the present invention; and

[0020]FIG. 11 is a side sectional view of the attachment of the claddingto the body structure incorporating the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0021]FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a typical side body cladding panel 12,such as a wheel flare, which is to be attached to a vehicle bodystructure utilizing the present invention. The cladding 12 has anexterior class A surface 14 upon which styling considerations areapplied. In the present example, a styling line 16 and a contour 18extend longitudinally to a distal end of the cladding 12. The stylingline 16 and contour 18 must align with an adjacent panel withcorresponding lines and contours.

[0022] Cladding 12 generally has a high aspect ratio, meaning that theheight of the cladding 12 is significantly greater than its thickness.Cladding 12 has vertically extending support flanges 20 along an upperperiphery. Flanges 20 each have a series of apertures 22 and detents 23.Detent 23 can be in the form of a recess or a through aperture. In thepresent example, flanges 20 are illustrated as a series of flanges.However, a single continuous flange could also be provided.

[0023] The lower periphery of the cladding 12 is provided with ahorizontally extending flange 24. Flange 24 is provided with a series ofapertures 26.

[0024] The inner side of the cladding 12 is provided with a series ofmounting brackets 28 and 30. Bracket 28 is preferably an elongatebracket stamped from sheet metal and extends between the lower flange 24and one of the apertures 22 in the upper flange 20. Similarly, brackets30 extend from the lower flange 24 to one of the apertures 22 in theupper flange 20. Rivets 29 or other suitable fasteners attach brackets28, 30 onto cladding 12. Each of the brackets 28 and 30 has a mountingbore 32, 34.

[0025] Flange 20 is provided with a series of clips 36 at each detent 23location.

[0026] Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, clip 36 of a clip assembly of thepresent invention comprises a flange engaging head 38 and a cylindricalshaft 40. Head 38 has a U-shaped slot 42 which extends perpendicular tothe shaft 40. Slot 42 is sized to slidingly receive flange 20. Head 38has an axially extending tab 44 biased to allow engagement of the clip36 onto flange 20 and to resist removal. Head 38 preferably has atapered contour and a series of ribs to improve rigidity. Shaft 40 has aconical end 46 and a series of adjacent ridges 48.

[0027] Clip 36 is applied to the flange 20 such that tab 44 engagesdetent 23 for attachment thereto. The head 38 will complementarily fitbetween the flange 20 and the contour of the cladding 12 opposite classA surface 14. Clip 36 is molded from a NYLON material to be relativelyrigid. Once the clip 36 is applied to the flange 20 and tab 44 engagesdetent 23, clip 36 is firmly attached to the flange 20.

[0028] Referring to FIG. 5, a typical body structure 50 is illustrated.In the present example, the body structure 50 is a quarter panel of apick up truck bed. At the location where the cladding 12 is to bemounted, the body 50 is provided with a series of guide slots 52,fastening slots 54 and a pilot aperture 56. Guide slots 52 and fasteningslots 54 each has a major axis which is longer than its minor axis. Themajor axis of each of the slots 52, 54 extend tangentially from a centerlocated at pilot aperture 56. In other words, guide slots 52 andfastening slots 54 are radially spaced from pilot aperture 56. Pilotaperture 56 has a rectangular outline with an arcuate lobe extendingperpendicular to the major axis of the rectangular outline. Preferably,pilot aperture 56 is located to receive an end of the cladding 12 thatdoes not require adjustment.

[0029] Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, a key slide 60 of the clip assemblyof the present invention is illustrated. Key slide 60 is preferablyinjection molded from a NYLON material and has a tubular body 62, a head64, winglets 66, end 68, cap 69 and a tab 70. Tubular body 62 has aninner diameter sized to receive shaft 40 of clip 36. End 68 is taperedto frictionally engage ridges 48 of clip 36. End 68 has a series ofslots 74 increasing flexibility and biasing the end 68 to enableinsertion and resist removal of the clip 36. Cap 69 is shaped to beslightly concave.

[0030] Head 64 is truncated along a chord extending from the outerdiameter of the body 62. Opposite the truncated side and extendingaxially is tab 70. Tab 70 is sized to fit within the width (minor axis)of guide slots 52 and pilot slot 56. Head 64 can be any noncircularshape so that the installer can visually confirm that the key guide hasbeen rotated into position.

[0031] Winglets 66 extend diametrically from opposite sides of the body62 and are sized to be inserted through guide slots 52. Winglets 66 arespaced from the head 64 a distance approximating the thickness of thebody structure 50. The concavity of cap 69 will slightly bias the keyslide 60 into frictional engagement once installed on the body structure50.

[0032] Key slides 60 are slidingly attached to the body structure 50 byfirst presenting the body 62 into the guide slot 52. Winglets 66 arethen aligned with the major axis of the guide slots so that the winglets66 are inserted therethrough. The key slides 60 are then rotated a ¼turn until the tab 70 snaps into the guide slot 52 retaining the keyslides 60 on the body structure 50. Key slides 60 are thus able to slidealong the major axis of the guide slots 52.

[0033] Key slide 60 is applied to the pilot slot 56 in a similar manner.However, the size of the lobe of pilot aperture 56 is such that the tab70 of the key slide 60 snaps into place once the key slide 60 has beenrotated a ¼ turn. Thus, key slide 60 will not move in any direction anappreciable amount.

[0034] To install a cladding 12, the cladding 12 is provided with thebrackets 28, 30. Clips 36 are applied to the flanges 20 to engagedetents 23. The body structure 50 is provided with the key slides 60.The cladding 12 is applied to the body structure 50 by inserting theshafts 40 of clips 36 into the key slides 60 until the ridges 48initially engages end 68 in a first engagement position. At this point,the cladding 12 pivots about the pilot aperture 56. The distal end withthe styling line 16 and contour 18 is moved up or down to align thestyling line 16 and contour 18 with the adjacent panel. Once aligned,the cladding 12 can be firmly pressed onto the body structure 50 to moveshaft 40 through key slides 60 into a second engagement position holdingthe cladding 12 relative to the body structure 50. The mounting bores32, 34 will align with mounting slots 54. The mounting bores 32, 34 andmounting slots 54 are each oversized so that there is a predeterminedamount tolerance which accommodates the relative movement. A rivet orother fastener 76 is applied the bores 32, 34 and mounting slots 54permanently attaching the cladding 12 to the body structure 50.

[0035] The clips and assembly method of the present invention isparticularly advantageous for modular type assembly methods currentlyemployed in the automotive industry. The panels or claddings may beapplied to a sub-assembly at a first location, shipped as a sub-assemblyto a second location for final assembly to the vehicle. At the firstlocation, the panels or claddings are applied such that the claddingsare still adjustable, yet sufficiently attached to withstand shipping.Once the sub-assembly has been assembled onto the vehicle, the claddingscan be adjusted and aligned and then firmly attached to hold thecladdings in place. Thereafter, fasteners can be applied to permanentlyattach the panels to the body structure.

[0036] The invention has been described in an illustrative manner, andit is to be understood that the terminology which has been used isintended to be in the nature of words of description rather than oflimitation. Many modifications and variations of the present inventionare possible in light of the above teachings. It is, therefore, to beunderstood that within the scope of the appended claims the inventionmay be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

We claim:
 1. A clip assembly for adjustably mounting a cladding panel toa body structure, said clip assembly comprising: a clip having a headand a shaft, said head having a slot for attaching said clip to a flangeof said cladding panel, said head having a tab extending into the slot,said tab biased to enable a sliding engagement of said head with saidflange and resist removal therefrom; and a key guide having a hollowbody sized to receive and retain said shaft in a first and a secondengagement positions, said key guide configured to be slidably retainedwithin a slot on the body structure, said cladding being adjustablerelative to said body structure while in said first engagement positionand said cladding being held in place when in said second engagementposition.
 2. A clip assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein said keyguide has a head at one end of said hollow body, said head beingconcavely contoured.
 3. A clip assembly as claimed in claim 2 whereinsaid key guide further comprises a pair of winglets extending from saidbody, said winglets enabling said key guide to be inserted into anaperture and upon rotation of said key guide, said key guide is slidablyretained therein.
 4. A clip assembly as claimed in claim 3 wherein saidkey guide has tab positioned to engage said aperture and maintain apredetermined orientation of said key guide relative to said bodystructure.
 5. A clip assembly as claimed in claim 4 wherein said keyguide tab extends from said head.
 6. A clip assembly as claimed in claim5 wherein said head has non-circular outline.
 7. A clip assembly asclaimed in claim 6 wherein said head has a truncated chord outline.
 8. Acladding comprising a support flange on an inner face of said cladding,said flange receiving at least two clips of a clip assembly according toany preceding claim, a first one of said clips engaging a firstcorresponding key guide slidable mountable on a body structure and asecond one of said clips engaging a second corresponding key guidemountable on said body structure enabling the cladding to be rotatedabout said second corresponding key guide to align an end of saidcladding.
 9. A cladding as claimed in claim 8 wherein said supportflange has a series of detents receiving and positioning said clips. 10.A cladding as claimed in claim 9 wherein said cladding further comprisesat least two brackets mounted on said inner face of said cladding, saidbrackets having an aperture and said body structure having acorresponding number of apertures, said bracket apertures aligning withsaid body structure apertures after said cladding has been adjustedrelative to said body structure.
 11. A cladding as claimed in claim 10wherein said cladding further comprises at least two fasteners forattaching said cladding to said body structure.
 12. A cladding asclaimed in claim 11 wherein said body structure has a pilot aperturereceiving said second corresponding key guide and an elongated slotreceiving said first corresponding key guide.
 13. A cladding as claimedin claim 12 wherein said body structure has a plurality of elongatedslots having a plurality of first corresponding key guides and saidcladding has a plurality of said first one of said clips mounted alongsaid support flange and positioned to engage with said plurality ofelongated slots.
 14. A cladding as claimed in claim 13 wherein saidplurality of elongated slots extend tangentially from said pilotaperture.
 15. A method of assembling a cladding to sub-assembly to beincorporated into a vehicle, said method comprising providing asub-assembly having a pilot aperture and at least one elongated slot,inserting a key guide in each of said pilot aperture and said at leastone elongated slot, providing a cladding having a support flange,providing at least two clips on said support flange, said clipspositioned to engage a corresponding one of said key guides, andinserting said clips into said corresponding keys guides to a firstengagement position retaining said cladding on said sub-assembly andenabling said cladding to be rotated about said key guide in said pilotaperture, whereafter said cladding can be fixed to said sub-assembly.